Cache memory is a special type of memory that is used to store recently used information. This memory is fast and efficient, so it is usually used to speed up the performance of a computer system.
If you are using a personal computer (PC), it is very likely that you have some form of cache memory. There are three main types of cache memory: the processor cache, the video cache and the main memory.
A processor cache is a small section of RAM used by a microprocessor for temporary storage of data and instructions.
Video cache is similar to the processor cache, but it stores information about images that are being displayed on the screen.
The main memory is a type of RAM that holds the bulk of the computer’s programs and data. The cache memory is used to store recently used information in order to make the program or the data accessible as quickly as possible.
What is the purpose of cache memory?
Cache memory is implemented to speed up the process of computing. In the CPU sub-system instead of fetching data directly from RAM, it fetches data required from the cache memory that acted as a buffer between CPU and RAM.
Cache memory in Harddisk also serves faster data required by RAM, instead of reading directly from Harddisk that needs to spin the disk, RAM will read from cache memory first.
